Gregory in the Pool (Paper Pool 4): Unique hand-coloured pressed paper pulp by David Hockney

Gregory in the Pool (Paper Pool 4) is one of Hockney's works from the Paper Pools series, created in 1978 in collaboration with Kenneth Tyler at Tyler Graphics. The composition depicts Gregory Evans, Hockney's longtime partner and muse, resting at the edge of a swimming pool with his arms folded on the poolside. Although Gregory's face is partially cast in shadow, subtle variations in the tones of the hand-coloured paper pulp create depth and definition. The pool itself is rendered with a distinctive mottled texture that evokes the rippling effect of sunlight reflecting across the water, while soft tonal shifts in the shadows enhance the sense of warmth and atmosphere. Executed in hand-coloured, pressed paper pulp, Gregory in the Pool (Paper Pool 4) exists as twenty unique variations, each individually handmade rather than produced as an identical edition.

Shown here is one of the twenty unique variants, identified on the reverse as Hockney 4-K. Although each variation shares the same composition, the colours, shadows and arrangement of the coloured paper pulp differ from one work to another, making every example a unique original. Comparing different variants reveals subtle changes in the hues of the water, surrounding landscape and Gregory's figure, demonstrating how Hockney and Tyler used the paper pulp process to create individual works with their own distinct character while preserving the iconic composition.